Aria’s pov

The sunrise painted the sky in shades of gold and pink as I stood at the edge of the clearing, my heart hammering against my ribs. Damon had returned just before dawn, exhausted but unharmed, and the news he brought had shaken me to my core. The humans knew. They had seen him. And now, they wanted to talk.

I smoothed my hands over the simple white dress I wore, feeling the slight swell of my belly beneath the fabric. The baby kicked softly, as if sensing my anxiety. Damon stood ...